Mayoral race in New Mexico's biggest city to focus on crime

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN, Associated Press ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — State Auditor Tim Keller has officially declared his candidacy for mayor of New Mexico's largest city while rolling out a plan to tackle growing crime rates in Albuquerque. Keller on Tuesday described crime in the city as being out of control, setting the stage for a recent rash of shootings, vehicles thefts and break-ins to be the focus as candidates compete for the city's top leadership post. Albuquerque's beleaguered and understaffed police force has struggled to keep up as the city now ranks first in the nation for the number of cars stolen daily per capita. Downtown businesses also have complained about their workers feeling unsafe. Keller wants to overhaul of police leadership and hire more officers. He's also proposing a drug treatment center and other programs to address homelessness and substance abuse.